Discussion

Dinner for 12-15 on the Plaza (KC)

My Book Club is planning a girls weekend on the Plaza sometime in October. We're still trying to hammer out the exact date but at least we've narrowed down the month (a flippin' miracle). Now we need to do the impossible and narrow down a restaurant we all can agree on.

Anyway....there our 15 of us - but I assume not everyone will attend. We plan on going out for a really nice meal on Saturday night. No picky eaters in the group and one vegetarian (non-vegan).

We'd like to keep it on the Plaza so we don't have to deal with driving or cabs. Even though I'm not a big fan of chains - The Capitol Grille was suggested and recommended by many. And, I do like the idea of their private dining room. I've not been there so I can't comment on the food.

What about Starker's? Never been there either. Is that the kind of place a group of semi-rowdy girls could go? (We're not ALL rowdy - just a few.)

The America Restaurant was also suggested by a lot of the girls (and you know I love The American). However, the non-Plaza location and the formal atmosphere isn't ideal.

I also thought of JJ's - but I was a bit underwhelmed the last time I was there. (It was also in the middle of a snowstorm and I was a bit distracted by my fear of not being able to make it home.)

A lot of people nixed Plaza III. A couple people nixed The Classic Cup. And McCormick & Schmick's.

What do you guys think? I can't help but feel I'm missing a restaurant.

I don't have a rec at the moment, but I would nix Starker's if I were you... it's not a rowdy kind of place (I always feel like I need to whisper there). It's fairly small too, unless they have a private dining area- I can't remember? There really isn't much seating in the main dining room.

Edited to add: I just checked out their website and they do have private dining for larger groups, but it still looks pretty stuffy, in my opinion.

I agree on the main dining room, and think it's a bit dated too (though maybe updating?), but I thought the private rooms down the hall were quite nice, and it seemed they were separate enough that a little rowdiness may be fine there in a way it wouldn't in the main room. I think it's worth calling them and seeing if they can accomodate your group. It would be great to be able to choose a uniquely Kansas City place, and the location is great.

I went for a family-style meal at Bo Ling's at the Board of Trade one time. They had about 15 of us at a couple of big round tables in a private room and we passed the dishes around (or used one of those lazy-susan type servers?). The food was excellent and it was fun to try a lot of stuff.

Man - I just caught a couple of nasty grammatical errors in my original post (must remember not to post before I've had my first cup of coffee. (are not our - geez!))

Keep the suggestions coming! Given the fact one of my girlfriends about set us all on fire last night when she knocked over a highly flammable oil candle - I'm a little leery of her having access to a big bucket of boiling oil at The Melting Pot. It's been veto'd by a couple of people anyway.

It's going to be tough to get all 15 of us to agree - but I'm up to the challenge!

Geez, I didn't even think of Grand St.! And... I'm going there for lunch on Wednesday - you'd think it would have rung a bell! I'll have to add that in to the mix. I've never been there for dinner - only lunch - but it has always been enjoyable.